NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (NSIDC DAAC)

The NASA Web Unification Project will consolidate information and resources for NASA Earth science datasets into the earthdata.nasa.gov website by the end of 2026. As part of this effort, some information currently available through NSIDC.org will move to earthdata.nasa.gov by the end of December. When this migration is complete, users will continue to discover NASA NSIDC DAAC datasets through the NSIDC  website as well the Earthdata website.

What is changing and why?

The majority of content found on the NSIDC website will continue to be on our website. However, NASA-specific content such as help articles, data access options, and data updates will move to the Earthdata website. The goal behind this unification effort is to move NASA data users towards a one-stop website for finding all NASA earth science data and related information. Instead of making data users go to 11 different DAAC websites, users will be able to find everything consolidated under the one earthdata.nasa.gov website. At the same time, NSIDC will continue to support access and discoverability to this content via the NSIDC website.

What is not changing?

NSIDC will continue to archive and steward NASA snow and ice  data, provide data discoverability and support users.  NSIDC will also continue to host non-NASA data resources on the NSIDC website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the timeline?

Identified content has already begun to go live earthdata.nasa.gov and this will continue throughout the fall and into December 2026. Once all the content is live on the earthdata website, some duplicate pages on the NSIDC website will be retired and redirected to their respective pages on earthdata.nasa.gov. Again, this will only impact NSIDC DAAC content. All other data-related content will remain the same on the NSIDC website. 

Will data access change?

Access to NSIDC DAAC data will remain the same. This consolidation project is only focused on information and resources and not the actual data files or metadata.

What will happen to NSIDC DAAC Mission & Project webpages?

By the end of the year, the NASA Mission & Project pages under the Explore Data page will be redirected to platform, sensor, and Project pages under the Data menu on the Earthdata website. For example, ICESat-2 content will be found on the ICESat-2 platform page and the ATLAS instrument page on the earthdata website. 

What will happen to help articles?

NSIDC will continue to provide help articles on our website. However, NASA-specific help content will move to the earthdata website and become Learn articles. Learn articles will also be discoverable from Earthdata data product landing pages similar to how they work on NSIDC data product landing pages today. .

What will happen to Data Announcements/Updates?

Data updates and announcements for NASA data products will transition to publishing on the earthdata.nasa.gov in late 2026. In coordination with that transition, NSIDC will retain a public archive of older NSIDC DAAC data announcements and updates. For all other NSIDC data products, announcements and updates will continue to be published on the NSIDC website. 

Do I need to take any action?

Not at this time. We are planning to make this transition as smooth as possible for our users by maintaining familiar discovery pathways on the NSIDC website to the earthata.nasa.gov website. 

Where can I get help?

If you have questions, contact NSIDC User Services at nsidc@nsidc.org.